Ball

ABSTRACT

A ball has a cover having at least two skins connected along borders of the skins. At least one flexible band is stitched between the borders of the skins. A bladder is received in the cover. The flexible bands can offset a shape difference of the cover to make the inflated ball as a “true sphere”.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention is related to a ball, and more particularly to a ball which has flexible bands stitched at joints of external skins thereof.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a ball, such as a football, a basketball or a volleyball, generally has a cover made by a plurality of skins (50, 60) stitched together. In a manufacturing process, there is an opening between the skins before a bladder (70) is received in the cover via the opening. The bladder (70) has a nozzle (71) extending through an aperture (61) in the skin (60). Thereafter, the skins (50, 60) around the opening are completely stitched together. When the ball is inflated with air entered via the nozzle (71), the bladder (70) and the cover are expanded.

[0005] The bladder (70) can be a true sphere when it is inflated. However, it is very difficult to make the cover as a “true sphere” whether made by hand or by machine. Therefore, the bladder (70) is pressed by the skins (50, 60) to deform, and the inflated ball is also not a “true sphere (80)” as indicated by the dashed line illustrated in FIG. 5. Such an irregularly-shaped ball is unsuitable because the travel and bounce of the ball cannot be predicted well, thereby spoiling a game.

[0006] Therefore, the invention provides an improved ball to mitigate and/or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The main objective of the invention is to provide a ball that has flexible band stitched between external skins for making the ball as a “true sphere”. With the flexible band securely connected to external edges of two skins, the flexible band provide a deformable ability to the combined skins such that after the bladder is inserted into the combined skins and inflated, the combined skins together with the flexible band can form a true sphere.

[0008] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of skins and a flexible band for making a cover of a ball in accordance with the invention;

[0010]FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing that a bladder is being received in the cover in accordance with the invention;

[0011]FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a ball in accordance with the invention;

[0012]FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing that a bladder is being received in a conventional cover of a ball; and

[0013]FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the conventional ball of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0014] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a ball in accordance with the invention is composed of a cover (not numbered) made by at least two skins (10, 20) and a bladder (40) received in the cover.

[0015] The skins (10, 20) are combined along borders thereof by a flexible band (30) stitched between the skins (10, 20). The bladder (40) is received in the cover via an opening (11) remained between the skins (10, 20). The bladder (40) has a nozzle (41) extending through an aperture (21) defined in the skin (20). Thereafter, the skins (10, 20) are completely stitched to close the opening (11).

[0016] When the ball is inflated with air, the bladder (40) and the cover are expanded. Because the flexible bands have resilience, even if the cover is not made as a “true sphere”, the flexible bands can offset the difference and the inflated ball is very approximatively a “true sphere”.

[0017] According to the invention, the ball has flexible bands to offset a shape difference of the cover to make the ball as a “true sphere”.

[0018] It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A ball, comprising: a cover having at least two skins (10, 20) connected along borders of the skins (10, 20), and at least one flexible band (30) stitched between the borders of the skins (10, 20); and a bladder (40) received in the cover.
 2. The ball as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover has an aperture (21) defined in the skin (20); and the bladder (40) has a nozzle (41) extending through the aperture (21). 